Shaw silent on tax relief plan for now

Shaw has, however, sought to assure that the Government will stick to its commitment to grant income tax relief to people earning up to $1.5 million a year.

Finance Minister Audley Shaw says he will not further comment on the government’s tax plan until he is able to make a full statement on all the issues.

When contacted this morning he said the matter is still before the Cabinet.

He also said he did not want to give partial information for fear it is taken out of context.

But Shaw again sought to assure that the Government will stick to its commitment to grant income tax relief to people earning up to $1.5 million a year.

He has faced a backlash since declaring that the Government is now looking for new avenues to plug the expected shortfall from the implementation of the tax plan.

Shaw said this had become necessary as the money from the special gas tax which he intended to use to finance the tax plan was placed in the Consolidated Fund instead of being set aside in a special fund.

There have since been calls for him to apologise as parliamentary records show that he was told about the use of the gas tax.

Information minister, Ruel Reid, has said the details of Shaw's tax plan will not be disclosed before the Finance Minister tables the new budget next week.

But the Opposition is insisting that Shaw must address the growing concern about the plan before then.